Firearm gas block

ABSTRACT

A gas block for a firearm and a gas block system for a firearm. The gas block includes an upper tube connected to a lower tube. The upper tube includes a first passageway and an aperture through the upper tube opposite the lower tube. The lower tube includes a second passageway configured to receive a barrel of a firearm. A central passageway connects the first passageway to the second passageway. A gas nipple having a central bore is threaded into the central passageway. The gas nipple includes an engagement feature to engage a tool for the rotation of the gas nipple within the central passageway. The tool may be inserted through the aperture in the upper tube. The gas nipple may include a taper at the second end. The first passageway is configured to receive a gas tube, or a piston cup, and the second passageway receives a firearm barrel.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 toU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/037,346 entitled“FIREARM GAS BLOCK” filed on Jun. 10, 2020, which is incorporated hereinin its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The embodiments described herein relate to a gas block for a firearm.

BACKGROUND Description of the Related Art

A gas block may be connected to the barrel of a firearm by differentmechanism. It is important that the gas block does not rotate withrespect to the barrel after it is connected. Otherwise, rotation of thegas block may damage a gas tube connected between the gas block and thereceiver of the firearm. A gas block may be pinned to the barrel of afirearm. Pinned connections do not allow the connection between the gasblock and the firearm to be adjusted. Further, an exterior groove mayneed to be added to the bottom of the barrel in order to enable the gasblock to be pinned to the barrel. Differences in tolerances to suchgrooves may lead to variations in the connection between gas blocks andbarrels.

Another mechanism to connect a gas block to a barrel of a firearm is touse one, or two, set screws that engage the bottom of the gas block tothe barrel. The set screws engage dimples formed on the bottom of thebarrel. Some barrels are manufactured with a single dimple opposite thegas port formed in the barrel. However, many gas blocks may use two setscrews requiring a second dimple to be formed in the barrel. Variationsin the size, shape, and/or depth in the formation of a second dimple onthe barrel may lead to a less than desired connection between the gasblock and the barrel. Additionally, dimple sizes, depths, and/or shapesvary between barrel manufactures, which may lead to a less than desiredconnection between the gas blocks and the barrel. Other drawbacks anddisadvantages of present suppressor systems also exist.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to a gas block for a firearm thataddresses some of the problems and disadvantages discussed above.

One embodiment is a gas block for a firearm. The gas block includes anupper tube having a first passageway and an aperture through the uppertube to the first passageway. The gas block includes a lower tube havinga second passageway, the lower tube being connected to the upper tube,wherein the aperture through the upper tube is opposite the lower tubeand wherein the second passageway is configured to receive a barrel of afirearm. The gas block includes a central passageway that connects thefirst passageway to the second passageway. The gas block includes a gasnipple positioned in the central passageway, the gas nipple having afirst end, a second end, exterior threads, a central bore that extendsfrom the first end to the second end, and an engagement feature on thefirst end. The engagement feature is configured to engage a tool for therotation of the gas nipple within the central passageway. The gas nipplemay include a taper at the second end. The first passageway may beconfigured to receive a gas tube or a piston cup.

One embodiment is a gas block system for a firearm. The system includesan upper tube having a first passageway and a first aperture through theupper tube to the first passageway. The system includes a lower tubehaving a second passageway, the lower tube being connected to the uppertube. The system includes a central passageway that connects the firstpassageway to the second passageway. The system includes a gas nipplepositioned in the central passageway, the gas nipple having a first end,a second end, exterior threads, a central bore that extends from thefirst end to the second end, and an engagement feature on the first end.The system includes a gas tube having a first end and a second end, thefirst end of the gas tube being open to an interior and the second endof the gas tube being close, the gas tube including a second aperturethrough the gas tube. The gas tube is positioned within the firstpassageway and the second aperture is aligned with the central bore ofthe gas nipple.

The engagement feature may be configured to engage a tool for therotation of the gas nipple within the central passageway. The system mayinclude a firearm barrel positioned within the second passageway, thefirearm barrel having a projectile path and a third aperture through thefirearm barrel in communication with the projectile path. The thirdaperture is aligned with the central bore of the gas nipple and thesecond aperture to provide communication between the projectile path andthe interior of the gas tube. The exterior threads of the gas nipple mayconnect the gas block to the firearm barrel. The gas nipple includes ataper at the second end. The taper at the second end of the gas nipplemay mate with a corresponding structure on the firearm barrel. A sealmay be created between the taper and the corresponding structure of thefirearm barrel. The central bore of the gas nipple may have a largerdiameter than the third aperture through the firearm barrel. Theextension of the gas nipple into the third aperture through the firearmbarrel prevents the rotation of the gas block with respect to thefirearm barrel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-section view of an embodiment of a gas block connectedto a firearm barrel with a tube connected to the gas block.

FIG. 2 is a close-up cross-section view of the gas block, the tube, anda portion of the firearm barrel shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the gas block, the tube, and the firearmbarrel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the gas block, the tube, and the firearmbarrel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a gas block connected to a firearm barrel.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a gas block connected to a firearm barrel.

FIG. 7 is a cross-section view of an embodiment of a gas block connectedto a firearm barrel.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a gas block.

FIG. 9 shows an end view of the gas block of FIG. 8

FIG. 10 shows a cross-section view along line 10 of the gas block ofFIG. 9.

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a gas nipple.

FIG. 12 shows a top view of the gas nipple of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 shows a side view of the gas nipple of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 shows a cross-section view along line 14 of the gas nipple ofFIG. 13.

While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way ofexample in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However,it should be understood that the disclosure is not intended to belimited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the intention is tocover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within thescope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-4 show a gas block system for a firearm 400 that includes a gasblock 100 connected to both a gas tube 200 and a firearm barrel 300. Thegas block 100 includes an upper tube 110 connected to a lower tube 120.The upper tube 110 includes a first passageway 111 configured to receivea gas tube 200, or piston cup, as would be appreciated by one ofordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. Theupper tube 110 includes a first aperture 112 through the top of theupper tube 110. During installation of the gas block 100 on the barrel300, the first aperture 112 enables a tool to rotate the gas nipple 130as discussed herein. The gas nipple 130 is threaded into the gas block100 via exterior threads 134. The gas nipple 130 prevents rotation ofthe gas block 100 with respect to the barrel 300 and also providescommunication from the projectile path 301 to the interior 203 of a gastube 200 via a second aperture 204 in the gas tube 200 and a thirdaperture 302 in the barrel 300 as discussed herein.

The gas tube 200 includes an open first end 201 and a closed second end202. When the gas is inserted into the gas block 200, the gas tube 200provides a path for gasses to exit the barrel 300 via the third aperture302, the central bore 135 of the gas nipple 130, and the second aperture204 in the gas tube 200. The insertion of the gas tube 200 into thefirst passageway 111 of the upper tube 110 blocks the first aperture 112of the upper tube 110. The interior 203 of the gas tube 200 is thenconnected to the receiver of the firearm via tubing as would beappreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit ofthis disclosure.

The firearm barrel 300 includes a projectile path 301 and a thirdaperture 302 that enables gas from the discharge of the firearm toescape into the gas block 100 and then to the receiver of the firearmvia the gas tube 200. The barrel 300 is received into the secondpassageway 121 of the lower tube 120 of the gas block 100.

FIGS. 5-7 show the gas block 100 connected to a barrel 300 of a firearm.The gas tube 200 is not shown for clarity. The gas nipple 130 isthreaded into the gas block 100 and a portion of the gas nipple 130extends into the third aperture 302 of the barrel, which prevents therotation of the gas block 100 with respect to the barrel 300. Prior toinsertion of the gas tube 200, a tool may be inserted through the firstaperture 112 in the upper tube 110 to rotate the gas nipple 130 into acentral opening 101 between the upper tube 110 and the lower tube 120 inthe gas block 100.

FIGS. 8-10 show an embodiment of a gas block 100. The gas block 100includes an upper tube 110 connected to a lower tube 120. The upper tube110 includes a first passageway 111 that is configured to receive a gastube 200 or piston cup. The lower tube 120 includes a second passageway120 configured to receive the barrel 300 of a firearm. The gas block 100includes a first aperture 112 that enables a tool to be inserted intothe gas block 100. The gas block 100 includes a central passageway 101between the first passageway 111 and the second passageway 121. Asdiscussed herein, the gas nipple 130 is threaded into the centralpassageway 101. The gas nipple 130 both secures the gas block 100 to thebarrel 300 and provides a pathway for gas to travel from the projectilepath 301 of the barrel to a gas tube 200 inserted into the firstpassageway 111 of the upper tube 110.

FIGS. 11-14 shows an embodiment of a gas nipple 130. The gas nipple 130has a first end 131 and a second end 132. The first end 131 includes anengagement feature 133 that enables a tool to engage the gas nipple 130to rotate it within the central passageway 101 of the gas block 100. Thegas nipple 130 includes exterior threads 134 that enable the gas nipple130 to be threaded into the gas block 100. The gas nipple 130 includes acentral bore 135 that allows passage of gas through the gas nipple 130.The central bore 135 may have a diameter that is larger than thediameter of the third aperture 302 through the firearm barrel 300. Thesecond end 132 of the gas nipple 130 includes a taper 132. The taper 132is configured to mate with a corresponding structure within the thirdaperture 302 in the barrel 300 to create a seal between the gas nipple130 and the barrel 300. The seal is to prevent gas from escaping aroundthe gas nipple 130 rather than passing through the central bore 135.

Although this invention has been described in terms of certain preferredembodiments, other embodiments that are apparent to those of ordinaryskill in the art, including embodiments that do not provide all of thefeatures and advantages set forth herein, are also within the scope ofthis invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention isdefined only by reference to the appended claims and equivalents thereof

What is claimed is:
 1. A gas block for a firearm, the gas blockcomprising: an upper tube having a first passageway and an aperturethrough the upper tube to the first passageway; a lower tube having asecond passageway, the lower tube being connected to the upper tube,wherein the aperture through the upper tube is opposite the lower tubeand wherein the second passageway is configured to receive a barrel of afirearm; a central passageway that connects the first passageway to thesecond passageway; and a gas nipple positioned in the centralpassageway, the gas nipple having a first end, a second end, exteriorthreads, a central bore that extends from the first end to the secondend, and an engagement feature on the first end, wherein the engagementfeature is configured to engage a tool for the rotation of the gasnipple within the central passageway.
 2. The gas block of claim 1,wherein the gas nipple includes a taper at the second end.
 3. The gasblock of claim 1, wherein the first passageway is configured to receivea gas tube or a piston cup.
 4. A gas block system for a firearm, the gasblock system comprising: an upper tube having a first passageway and afirst aperture through the upper tube to the first passageway; a lowertube having a second passageway, the lower tube being connected to theupper tube; a central passageway that connects the first passageway tothe second passageway; a gas nipple positioned in the centralpassageway, the gas nipple having a first end, a second end, exteriorthreads, a central bore that extends from the first end to the secondend, and an engagement feature on the first end; a gas tube having afirst end and a second end, the first end of the gas tube being open toan interior and the second end of the gas tube being close, the gas tubeincluding a second aperture through the gas tube; wherein the gas tubeis positioned within the first passageway; and wherein the secondaperture is aligned with the central bore of the gas nipple.
 5. Thesystem of claim 4, wherein the engagement feature is configured toengage a tool for the rotation of the gas nipple within the centralpassageway.
 6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a firearmbarrel positioned within the second passageway, the firearm barrelcomprising a projectile path and a third aperture through the firearmbarrel in communication with the projectile path, wherein the thirdaperture is aligned with the central bore of the gas nipple and thesecond aperture to provide communication between the projectile path andthe interior of the gas tube.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein theexterior threads of the gas nipple are threaded into the gas block tothe firearm barrel.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the gas nippleincludes a taper at the second end
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein thetaper at the second end of the gas nipple mates with a correspondingstructure on the firearm barrel.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein aseal is created between the taper and the corresponding structure on thefirearm barrel.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the central bore ofthe gas nipple has a larger diameter than the third aperture through thefirearm barrel.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein a portion of the gasnipple extends into the third aperture through the firearm barrel toprevent the rotation of the upper tube and the lower tube with respectto the firearm barrel.